oxley



w. T. OXLEYI.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1919.

3 shins-SHEET I.

)i iir i INVENTOR, L fflierfgtlg MK? l hiy -43v? 'w. T. OXLEY.

PHOTOGHAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED luLvao. 1919.

1 32,854. Patented Ma1'.2,1920.

3 SHEETSSHE ET 2.

llllllll INVENTOR.

BY i

A T TORNEY/S.

Walierlz W w. T. OXLEY.

PHOTOGRAPHLC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 30.1919.

Patented Mar. 2,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIE? ,22 25 19,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER T. OXLEY, F FERG US FALLS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING. MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented i i-a122, 1920 Application filed July 30. 1919. .Seria1 No. 314,239...

- Toall whom it-may concern Be it known that I, WALTER T. QXLEY, citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Fergus Falls, in the county of Otter Tail and State of Minnesota, have 1n-, vented certain new anduseful Imp rOVements in Photographic-Printing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact-specification.

This invention relates to photography and more articularly to photographic printing mac ines, and it has foritsob ect to provide a compact, simple, durable. and efficient machine for makingrontactprmts:

from negatives rapidly. To theseendsithe improvements are directed particularlywto the means for masking thenegative .to the desired size; means for-holding either a single negative or a roll of negatives 1n printing position; means .for clamping and discharging the paper from printing position; means for numbering each lot. of prints; and means for counting the number of exposures made. With these and other; objects in view,.;;the invent on consists in certain improvements, andjcombinations of parts, all as willbe hereinafter more'fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specifi-- cation.

In the drawings in which like characters desi ate the same parts:

Figurel is a perspective of my machine complete.l. .f

F ig.'2=is-a.pla n Iv-ie'w of the masking member andtlamp.zhollse,'f'the-.platen and. platen operating levers being removed.

Fig. 3 is as'ection on line 33 of F 1g. 2, showing also; in section the platen and platen operating mechanism.

Fig. 4. is .a: side elevation of the lamp house and mechanism mounted thereon.

Fig. 5 is a section through line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

This printing machine is preferably of the type in whicha light-tight box bearing a translucent frame is mounted on a table, a foot treadle operating the platen and lamps, leaving the' oper-ators'handsfree to manipulate themasking :member's, negatives, paper, etc. 'I have illustrateda preferred form in the; drawings where a lamp house 1 is mounted on a table 2, supported by legs 2 of convenient height. To the front legs 2 there is hingedly connected a foot treadle 3 by an iron strap a, the foot art.

tread-1e -1 held in raised p051- tion by. a-. spring 5,.fastened at one-end to the under. side .oftheitable top 2 and at the othehend-to'5the'foottreadle 3.-. 4 The. lamp house 1. is preferably constructedwith the back higher than the front The masking. device is mounted on the top 7 of the lam house, ;.being hinged at the rear of the glass panel 6, so that it may be easily and quickly. raised to insert and adjust a negative between the source of light-9 and'the'inask. Thezmasking device consists of'a frame 10 hinged-at 11 to the to 7. This frame .10- carries .a. rod. 12 around three sides just beyond their edges, the ends and corners of the rod being convfined by small castings 13. This insures coi'rect alinement, since to produce accurate margins, around prints requires substantial and carefully made parts. These rods or runners '12 carry castings .14, boredout to slide smoothly on the rods, and'preferably provided with spring. latches 15 adapted. to

hold the castings 143' in certain positions determined by the standard dimensions for prints; small notches 7 0 in the rods serving to hold the latches 15 against accidental dis placement. The vertical masking member comprises a thin metal sheet lfiffastened to a casting 14. The horizontal masking member is also a thin metal band or strip of sheet metal 17 fastened to castings 14 mounted on the rods to either side of the frame 10. On one of the masking members, preferably the horizontal one as shown, a spring ejector 18 is mounted by soldering, riveting or otherwise, along one edge 19 as shown in Fig. 55. f 4

The advantage of placing the ejector'lS on a movable mask member is that as it moves with the mask for the various sized sheets of paper to be printed upon, it engages substantially the same area of any of the various sized sheets; whereas if placed on a stationary part, it wouldnot operate satisfactorily with sheets of paper of different sizes.

This spring 18 is of light metal which requires but little pressure to be pressed flat against member 17,"yet is strong enough to raise a sheet of paper so that the operator can readily remove it from the machine. In order to allow a comparatively .largesized printto be made utilizing substantiallyall of the glass panel 6, I provide a cut out portion 20 in the frame 10, which 1 preferably cover with a protecting cap 21 to prevent injury to spring 18 :when in its lowermost position. On the opposite sides from the movable maskmemb'ers 16-and 17 there is a stationary masking .-member- 22 fastened to frame 10,.preferably .made in one piece in the shape of a carpenters square or L shaped,.although it may be made of several pieces. To provide a stop for the paper there is over this mask member 22 a second L."shaped member 23 mounted on lugs 24 adapted 'toslide on pins 25 on the frame 10. It can readil be seen that this member 23 also allowst' width of the margin to be varied within desirable limits. useful provision since by using standard sized paper theprin't can be made with a uniform margin entirely eliminating trimming. The masking apparatus is self-contained and is mounted so that it may be easily raised'or the parts adjusted with the effort. The weight ofthe frame 10 and'parts mounted thereon is sufficient to hold a negative between it and the glass panel 6, no latches or springs being re quired.

The platen or presser back of this ma casing 1 assists in holding the platen in raised position as shown in Fig. 3, and is arranged so that when the platen is lowered (Fig. 4) the spring extends substantially parallel to the platen so that it exerts very little pullon the platen, requiring no additional efiort to hold the platen in lowered position. To raise and lower the platen 27.29 the following mechanism is used; A bracket 32 is fastened to the back of top 7 to which is pivotally connected a lever 33. A lever 34 connects the end of lever 33 to platen section 29, forming a toggle joint. A rod 35 connects the outer end of the foot treadle 3 with lever 33, so that by depressing the foot treadle 3the levers 33 and '34 lower This is a first section 27 and then 29 of the platen, the hinge 2830 being so arranged that a firm, even pressure can be produced over the entire surface of the paper. To secure the best results I have covered the lower side of the platens 27 and 29 with felt 36. To limit the upward movement ofthe platen I'provide a stop 71 on. the end of lever 33 which as shown in Fig. 4 contacts with bracket 32 in its uppermost position. There is a material advantage in having platen 27 press upon the glass panel 6 before section 29, since it enables the operator to hold the outer is clamped to the negative by platenx27.

thereby insuring proper .register with the mask and negative. As the outer edge of the paper lies over the spring ejector 18, section 29 of the platen presses both .paper and the ejector .18 into contact .with the negative andmask member 17 respectively, when the foot treadle 3 is lowered; when released, and the platen section 29 is raised, ejector 1'8 raises one edge of the-paper so that the operator can easily. remove the paper without the usual difliculty of. picking pp a flat sheet from asubstantially fiat surace.

In order to number the prints on the back, as is generally done by amateur finishers by hand, to differentiate between the various orders, I provide an automatically-operated stamp 40. Sinceit is usually the practice to give all the prints of one order the same number, I provide a stamp which will repeat the same number until changed, although if the occasion demanded I could use a stamp which would number the prints consecutively. The stamp 40, which is of a well known type wherein the bands carrying the numbers are manually adjusted, is mounted on platen 27 by a bracket 41 to which it is revolubly attached at 42. A support 43 is fastened at the bottom to the top 7 of the lamp house-and carries at its upper end a ring 44. This support 43 is preferably made of resilient metal although it may be rigid. A link 45 connects the ring 44 to the stamp 40 just beyond the oint 42 small portion of platen is cut away at 27, Fig. 1, so the stamp can contact with the paper being printed upon. As platen 2'7 rises the stamp 40 will revolve about pivot 42 in the direction of arrow in Fig. 4, as link 45 will, being eccentric to'the pivot 42, cause it to rotate. This movement is desirable since the stamp must be inked. An

where -1t 1s pivotally connected to racket 41. A

ink pad 46 is supported by top 7 on a bracket 47, which is preferably made of springy band material so that firm contact will be secured between the rubber stamp 40 and the pad 46. It can readily be seenv that by making brackets 43 and 47 resilient, the platen has considerable latitude of mote ders from one negative this a tedious job.

To obviate the necessity of counting, I provide .an automatic numbering machine 50 which is preferably attached to top 7. This machine 50 is of a well known type wherein a partial revolution of a shaft moves forward a number, so that the device counts one at each cycle of movement, and registers such count on a dial-before a small window. I use an arm 51 attached to the operating shaft of machine 50 in such a way that each depression operates the counter. To the rod 35, whichlowers the platen, is fastened an arm 52 by a set-screw 53 so that the outer end 54 rests in the end of arm 51. Each time the foot treadle 3 is depressed, rod moves downwardly, depressing-arm 52 thereby operating the counter through arm 51, so that the .1 number of prints canhbe ascertained from the dial .ofthe counter 50. This may be set'to number each orderof prints, or the number. of prints from'a single negative, as convenient; I

.Ope'rators sometimes have difliculty in having'sufiicient light in the printing room -outside'of; that coming from the printing box. I have found that a lamp mounted on an adjustable rod is convenient. On the back of the top 7 there is a plate 60 supporting a flexible metal tube 61 which in turn supports a lamp shade 62. This shade is preferablyof some color such as red or yellow which'will pass only such light as will be safe for photographic papers. I may use a colored screen 63'over the end of the shade 62 "or, if :preferred, the lamp bulb (not shown) may be colored, so as to pass only the desired colored light rays. The tube 61 being flexible-can be adjusted in any direction, and carries the necessary wires to the lamp. A-hutton 64 is placed so the operator canconveniently use the lamp 60 as desired.

The operation of the machlne can be most easily. described by enumerating the steps necessary to make a. print. Suppose a print is to be made of one negative in a strip of film; The operator raises frame 10 and lays the film over glass panel 6, adjusting the negative by means of pilot lamp 8 to the desired position and lowers frame 10 over the film; The negative having been placed so that two sides are properly masked by member 22, then masking members 16 and 17 are adjusted to suit the negative as previously described. If a half inch wide margin is desired, the margin age 23 is moved to a position one half inch from the inner edges of mask 22. The sensitive paper is then held by the outer portion of the sheet, and is placed with the upper and left hand edges contacting with guide 22. As the foot lever 3 is depressed rod 35 causes levers 33 and 3. to lower section 27 of the platen which clamps the paper to the negative. The operator then releases his hold onthe paper and section 29 being lowered by further movement of foot treadle 3 presses firmly on the other part of the negative, also pressing ejector l8 flat beneath the paper. The lamps 9 are automatically lighted when the platen is completely lowered. As the pressure on treadle 3 is released platen 29 rises, allowing ejector 18 to raise the inner edge of the paper. The operator may grasp the paper before section 27 releases the paper or afterward, as convenient. The lamps 9 are automatically extinguished and the pilot lamp 8 turned on when this platen 29 rises.

It will be seen by the foregoing description that I have a machine which can be used with the maximum speed and minimum elfort; one which is well-adapted for-the use of the amateur, amateur finisher and the professional.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

'1. In a photographic printing machine,

the combination with a panel having a printing area,'a frame pivoted to the panel and operating by gravity to press against the panel so as to hold a negative in position over. the printing area, and a pivoted presser back adapted to be pressed against said frame to hold a sheet of paper in position thereon. 2. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a panel having a printing area, a frame pivoted to the panel and operating by gravity to press against the panel to hold a negative in position thereon, adjustable masks on said frame, an adjustable margin gage on the frame over one of said masks, and a presser back adapted to be pressed against said frame to hold a sheet of paper in position thereon.

3. In a printing machine the combination of a lamp housing and a transparent panel mounted therein, with a frame hinged to the lam housing, and carrying mask members, two of said mask members being slidably connected to said frame, a fixed mask member, a margin gage adjustable over a mask member, and a platen hinged to the lamp housing adapted to cover said mask members when said platen is lowered.

4:. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a transparent panel with a frame movable relative to said transparent panel having masking members mounted thereon, a platen adapted to cover and uncover the said transparent panel and masking members, an ejector mounted on one of the masking. members adapted to be operated through said platen. v

5. In. a photographic printing machine the combination of'a transparent-panel with a frame movable relative to said transparent panel having masking members mounted thereon, a platen adapted to cover and uncover the said transparent panel and masking members, said masking members being slidable on said movable frame, an ejector mounted on one of said movable masking members, said, ejector comprising a leaf spring fastened by one end to the masking member and adapted to lie flat upon said mask member when compressed by said platen, and toextend above said mask memher when released.

. 6. In a photographic printing machine, a transparent panel, means adapted to exert pressure over a portion of said panel to hold one portion of a pieceof paper firmly, and a spring positioned near said panel and tend ing to press outwardly therefrom so as to space another portion. of such'paper from said panel, to render it readily accessible, and a second pressing means arranged opposite the spring and adapted to exert pressure over a portion ofthe'panel and against the spring, so' as to hold the portion of paper adjacent the spring firmly in position against the panel.

7. In a photographic printing'machine the combination of a transparent panel, with means for holding a negative over said transparent panel, means for engaging a sheet ofpaper to be printed upon, comprising a presser back, a paper raising means comprising a spring, the said presser back consisting of two parts, .the first being adapted 'to clamp a portion of the paper while a portion of the paper is held spaced from said. negative, the second part of said presser back being adapted to engage and release said paper raising spring, so that the paper to be printed upon may be accessible just before and just after being clamped to the negative.

8. In a photographic printing machine, a frame'having a printing area, a presser back hinged to the frame, a spring connecting the frame and back and tending to hold the back away from the frame, means for moving said back into contact with the frame against the tension of the spring, the spring when the back is thus in contact with the frame being positioned substantially parallel to the frame and back so as to be in a position of only slight mechanical advanta e.

9. In a printing machine of the class described, the combination of a table supportmeans comprising a toggle, a toggle'operating rod, a foot treadle for operatingthe rod, and a spring to normally hold said foot treadle in raised position, a second spring normally tending to rotate the platen into a raised position, said second spring positioned to exert but little rotative force. when said platen is lowered by pressure upon said foot treadle moving it against the action of said first mentioned spring.

10. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a frame having a printing area, a platen for-pressing sensitized material against the printing area, said platen being in two parts, one hinged to the frame, and the other hinged to the first mentioned part, means for exerting a downward pressure on the last mentioned platen member, a spring 'attached'to .the last mentioned platen member and to the frame,

said spring operating to hold said last men-.

tioned platen member out of-contact with the frame until after the first mentioned member has contacted therewith, under the influence of the pressure exertingmean's.

- 11. In a photographic printing-machine, the combination of a table carrying. a lamp housing having a transparent panel in the top, with a frame carrying masking mem bers hinged to the lamp housing,- a two part platen one part of which is hinged to the lamp housing the other part being hinged to the. first mentioned part, means for lowering and raising the platen, a spring connecting one of the platens to the lamp housing so that when the platens are lowered one will be brought into contact with the said transparent panel and masking members in advance of the other.

12. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a table carrying a lamp housing having a transparent panel in the top, with a frame carrying masln'ng members hinged to the lamp housing, a two part platen one part of. which is hinged to the lamp housing the other part being hinged to the first mentioned part, means for lowering and raising the platen, a spring connecting one of the platens to the lamp housing so that when the platens are lowered one will be brought into contact with the said transparent panel and masking members in advance of the other, said spring being arranged to exert an increasing rotative movement to the said platen as the platen is raised.

Signed at Fergus Falls, Minn., this 24th day of'July, 1919.

WALTER T. OXLEY. 

